"Prisoner of the Caucasus" is one of the legendary films of Soviet cinema. An uncomplicated story about the next adventures of a student Shurik made a splash at the box office. This comedy is over 45 years old, but millions of people continue to watch and revise it.
The secret to movie success
"Prisoner of the Caucasus" was released in Soviet theaters on April 1, 1967. The success of the movie was simply deafening. Until the end of the year, almost 77 million viewers watched it, which allowed Gaidai's film to take first place at the box office. The secret to this comedy's long-term success is simple. It was provided by the witty dialogues of the characters, the brilliant work of the director and the cast. Of no small importance in the success of the film is a powerful positive charge, which is characteristic of all films by Leonid Gaidai.
Although the events in the comedy take place somewhere in the Caucasus, the filming process took place almost entirely in the Crimea, mainly in Alushta and its environs.
Legendary Trinity
In addition to Shurik himself, the central place in the comedy is occupied by the legendary film trinity - Coward, Goonies and Experienced - performed by Yevgeny Morgunov, Georgy Vitsin and Yuri Nikulin. Few people know that after the script was approved, the film crew had problems with the actors. Immediately two members of the trinity - Morgunov and Nikulin - refused to shoot "Prisoner of the Caucasus". The actors didn't like the comedy script. However, Gaidai convinced them that by joint efforts they would correct the scenario.
Looking at the complete idyll on the screen, it is difficult to believe that the legendary acting trinity often could not find a common language. The members of the film crew in their memoirs said that the most unpredictable of the actors was Yevgeny Morgunov. After the film "Operation Y" and other adventures of Shurik, "star fever" came to him, so the actor didn't have to give up filming in the midst of the working process. Often, instead of Morgunov, you can see an understudy with a similar physique in the frame.
Leonid Gaidai tried in every possible way to get away from scandals on the set. He loved to encourage creative rebellion and improvisation. For every trick he came up with, he handed the actor a bottle of champagne, which was in short supply at that time. Such a prize was awarded to Vitsin for inventing the episode with the inoculation of Morgunov and Nikulin for the scene with scratching his feet.
"Prisoner of the Caucasus" gave the people a lot of phrases that later became winged: "Memento mori - Instantly at sea", "Sorry for the bird …", "Bambarbia, kerguda", "In short, Sklikhasovsky!" and many others.
Student Shurik
Shurik in the comedy was played by the actor Alexander Demyanenko. After filming Gaidai's films, he was a real success, but the actor was not particularly happy about it. Subsequently, the successful image of Shurik, like a sword of Damocles, hung over the actor, not allowing him to go beyond the comedic role.
Caucasian captive
Actress Natalya Varley starred in the role of a Caucasian prisoner, "an athlete, a Komsomol member and just a beauty". Gaidai tried many actresses for the role of Nina, including the first beauties, but settled on Varley. The director was captivated by her extraordinary charm and youthful spontaneity. The actress then had little experience. She came to the cinema from the circus. On the set, she did not succeed in everything, but the most offensive for Varley is that she did not manage to voice her heroine well. Nina was voiced for her by Nadezhda Rumyantseva, and the song about bears was performed by Aida Vedishcheva. Despite this, after the comedy, Varley gained universal fame.
Comrade Saakhov
Vladimir Etush played the role of Nina's unlucky fiancé and the head of the District Committee for Agriculture. In contrast to the perky trinity, to create an even greater comic effect, his character on the screen was extremely serious all the time. Initially, Gaidai wanted Saakhov to be parody and grotesque, but Etush was able to convince the director.
Minor roles
The supporting actors brilliantly performed their roles and brought a unique flavor to the comedy. The incomparable Frunzik Mkrtchyan played the role of Nina's uncle, and his on-screen wife was played by the actor's real wife, Donara Mkrtchyan. The administrator of the hotel, which Shurik got to in search of Caucasian folklore, was played by Mikhail Gluzsky. Gaidai found a role in the comedy for his wife Nina Grebeshkova. She played a nurse in a mental hospital. Pyotr Repnin was the chief physician. The driver Edik, who helped Shurik escape from the mental hospital, was played by Ruslan Akhmetov.
Donkey Lucy
After the release of "The Caucasian Captive" the famous donkey Lucy woke up. The one who pursued Nina along with Shurik in the first scene of the film. The donkey was born in 1948. The average life span of these animals is 30-40 years. However, Luce had a chance to live to the age of 61. The last time she shook the old days in 2005, starring in Bondarchuk's film "9th company".
